Armad initially wanted to add more devas to help the initial ten he selected to combat the five demonic lions. However, after some contemplation, he decided against it. He believed that barely winning such battles was crucial for increasing cultivation power and gaining battle experience. Easy victories meant learning nothing from the combat. Despite knowing it would take the ten devas considerable time to defeat the lions, he leaped away and headed deep into the forest, determined to push the devas to their limits and ensure they grew stronger from this ordeal.
With Armad gone, Nusi knew she was now in charge of the training. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the responsibility. After successfully aiding Ai in her fight against a lion, Nusi stands, contemplating her next move. The battle had been intense, and she could see the fatigue setting in among the soldiers. She wanted to ask Armad for energy-boosting pills to heal the soldiers, knowing many would be injured today and that the pills she had wouldn’t be enough. But Armad had already vanished into the depths of the forest, leaving her to manage the situation alone.
As she pondered her options, a sudden flash caught her eye. To her surprise, a bag materialized out of thin air and floated towards her. It was filled with energy-boosting pills. She quickly grabbed the bag, a sense of relief washing over her.
Without taking any time, new demonic lions appeared on the battlefield, their menacing roars echoing through the area. The remaining 40 soldiers, already on edge, quickly drew their weapons. None of them hesitated to engage, knowing the severity of the situation. If any of them had hoped for assistance in the face of near-death before, that hope was now gone. Everyone was fighting for their survival, and they all knew the stakes were higher than ever.
A little distance from where they were, Armad materialized outside a certain cave. He took a moment to survey the surroundings, noting the eerie stillness that permeated the air. Inside the cave, he sensed the cultivation of a massive demonic lion, a creature that likely held dominion over the lions in this territory. This demonic lion, brimming with a formidable aura, was at the fourth stage of deva.
Before Armad materialized outside the cave, he had only sensed the cultivation of a single lion. However, upon his arrival, a new realization dawned upon him. He now detected the cultivation of two lions within the cave—one female and the other male. The cultivation of these lions was powerful, almost overwhelming, indicating that both were at the fourth stage of deva. These two lions were likely couples, bonded not only by their fierce strength but also by their shared cultivation level.
The male lion, in particular, had an aura that resonated with an extraordinary intensity. Armad discerned that this lion had reached the peak of the fourth stage, with cultivation equal to that of Commander Silaini. This revelation meant that the male lion’s physical toughness had transcended the normal boundaries of the fourth stage, reaching the very peak of deva. The sheer power emanating from this lion was palpable, a testament to its advanced cultivation and formidable might.
Armad stood still, absorbing the weight of the situation. He was certain that this demonic lion was the most powerful cultivator he had ever encountered. Its status as a demonic animal implied that its physical toughness had already surpassed its cultivation level. In addition to this, Armad realized that this was the first time he had ever faced two cultivators simultaneously, both of whom had reached the fourth stage of deva. This realization brought a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Instantly, Armad began contemplating his strategy. Could he rely solely on his physical toughness to combat these demonic animals? The thought lingered in his mind, a challenge he was eager to confront. Despite the inherent risks, he decided to test his limits. Confidence surged through him, bolstered by the knowledge that, no matter the outcome, he would not perish in this place.
As he stood there, sensing the intricate details of the cave and its inhabitants, the air grew tense. The lions, having detected his presence after he had been systematically eliminating their subordinates, wasted no time. With a roar that echoed through the cave, the two lions emerged swiftly.
The lions did not hesitate. As soon as they emerged, they launched a direct attack, their sharp claws gleaming in the dim light. One lion attacked from the left, the other from the right, their strategy clear—they intended to give Armad no chance to escape. The ferocity of their assault was matched only by their precision, each lion aiming to overwhelm him with their combined might.
Armad did not try to escape. He clenched his fists, ready to face the lion attacking him from the front, and allowed the lion attacking him from behind to strike. The front lion’s eyes glinted with a predatory gleam, and Armad could feel its hot breath on his face as it lunged.
However, Armad took too many risks. The lion attacking him from behind was at the fourth stage of deva, a level that imbued it with extraordinary strength and speed. When its claws raked across his back, Armad felt a sharp, searing pain. He heard the sickening sound of his backbone cracking. The pain was excruciating, a terrible sensation he hadn’t experienced in a long time. His second stage of cultivation offered no secret protection against such pain, and he realized, too late, that he had neglected to enhance the toughness of his bones. As a result, his bones were as vulnerable as those of common people, creating points in his body through which powerful cultivators could easily harm him.
Instantly, he vanished using his teleportation spell, Kaban Shishu. The demonic lions, now confused, scanned their surroundings, searching for their vanished prey. Their ears twitched, picking up on the faintest sounds, but Armad was nowhere to be seen.
A short distance away, Armad reappeared, materializing out of thin air. His breathing was heavy and labored, each inhale sending a jolt of pain through his fractured back. He was chewing something, his jaws working furiously. Without wasting any time, he continued to throw energy-boosting pills into his mouth. Within a minute, his broken backbone began to heal, the pain gradually subsiding.
Armad sighed heavily, relief washing over him. He had stared death in the face just moments ago, and the experience left him shaken. After taking a moment to gather himself, he shook his head, contemplating his situation. If he truly wanted to achieve victory over these demonic lions, he either had to increase his cultivation or resort to using his Miyura or his pol string. However, he was reluctant to use these powerful skills. Doing so would undermine the purpose of his training. His goal was to increase the toughness of his body.
Using his powerful skills now would be a shortcut, an easy way out that would leave him unprepared for future battles. Instead, he wanted to save these abilities for more critical situations, for battles where his life truly hung in the balance.
Before the lions become aware of his presence, Armad has already teleported to another distant area—a dense, dark forest teeming with unknown dangers. This forest is far from the lions’ territory. As he surveys the surroundings, he senses the presence of demonic animals lurking in the shadows, their sinister energies pulsating through the trees.
On this day, Armad is determined to push his limits. He ventures deeper into the forest, alert for any sign of danger. Hours pass, but he encounters no demonic lions or other demonic animals at the formidable fourth stage of Deva. Instead, he comes across numerous creatures in the third stage of Deva. His eyes gleam with determination as he engages in fierce battles, his movements a blur of lethal precision. By sunset, he has slain over fifty of these creatures, each kill further honing his skills and fortifying his resolve.
After each victory, Armad sets the fire, the flames consuming the fallen creatures. He cooks their flesh over the crackling fire, the aroma filling the air as he eats the meat on the spot. The system, recognizing his relentless effort, rewards him with pills that enhance the toughness of his muscles. Without hesitation, he swallows the pills as soon as they materialize, their potent effects coursing through his body. If the system could produce the pills faster, Armad would consume them continuously, never pausing to rest.
By the end of the day, Armad feels a significant increase in his muscle toughness, a tangible reward for his relentless pursuit of power. Within a single day, he has already improved his muscle toughness by 5%. The sunsets, and the forest are bathed in darkness. Night falls, but Armad has no intention of resting. His level of cultivation negates the need for sleep, allowing him to remain vigilant and active through the night.
As he considers his next move, he thinks of the camp where Nusi and her companions are stationed. He contemplates returning to ensure their safety but ultimately decides against it. He is confident in their abilities, believing they can handle themselves unless they encounter a demonic lion at the fourth stage of Deva. He trusts that they will call for his assistance if needed.
Nevertheless, Armad decides to send a message to Nusi, using his Airid device. He informs her of the presence of two lions that have reached the fourth stage of Deva, warning her to relocate their camp if they spot these dangerous creatures. He advises them to move to a safer area late at night, where they can rest without fear of an ambush.
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Determined to make the most of the night, Armad resolves to continue his hunt. Until the following morning, he doesn’t stop his relentless hunting. Early at dawn, as the first rays of light pierce through the dense foliage, he encounters two demonic elephants, both in the second stage of deva. These formidable creatures tower over him, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. Without hesitation, he leaps into action, his movements a blur of speed and precision.
With a fierce roar, he clenches his fist and delivers a powerful smash to the nose of the first elephant. The force of his blow is so immense that his hand buries itself deep into the elephant’s tough hide. The beast lets out a thunderous bellow of pain and fury, shaking the ground beneath them. Simultaneously, he spins around, using the momentum to deliver a devastating kick to the second elephant that was charging at him from the side. The impact sends the second elephant staggering backward, trumpeting in agony.
His combat prowess is evident to anyone watching. The confidence in his movements, the precision of his strikes—it’s clear that he has gained significant experience from his continuous battles. Observing him now, one can understand the truth in the experts’ words: true power and experience are forged on the battlefield. Had he confined himself within the safety of his palace walls, he would never have attained the skills and strength he now possesses.
Despite the demonic elephants’ formidable defenses, he remains undaunted. Their hides are tougher than those of lions, but this does not concern him. What truly concerns him is that the power of his smash is still not as potent as he desires. He seeks to push his limits further, to hone his strength to its peak. Nevertheless, his skin and muscles are already tougher than those of the beasts he faces, rendering them unable to inflict serious harm upon him.
A week has passed since he ventured into this treacherous forest, and each day has been a crucible of combat and survival. His muscles have toughened, their resilience now reaching 65 out of 100 percent. He has slain countless animals at the third stage of deva, each victory a testament to his growing power. More impressively, he has even defeated a few creatures that had recently ascended to the fourth stage of deva.
At the same time, Armad and Nusi had been exchanging messages frequently. Nusi informed him that they were also gaining more battle experience. Eventually, he decided to visit them, using his system to produce more pills from Nusi’s body. The results were impressive. The toughness of Ai’s skin had increased to 91%, providing her with almost impenetrable defense, while the toughness of Nusi’s muscles had increased to 39%, significantly enhancing her strength and endurance. Indeed, this forest had become a paradise for producing pills, much like a mythical sanctuary of the world. Armad felt no need to return to the town of Tiriba anytime soon. He knew that if any problems arose, the judge would inform him promptly.
On this particular day, Armad returned to the cave of the two demonic lions, a place that had once been a source of great danger. He stood confidently in front of the cave, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression one of calm determination. The demonic lions, sensing his presence, wasted no time in attacking. One lion lunged at him from the right, while the other charged from the left. Unlike before, Armad did not retreat or evade their attacks. He stood his ground, unmoved by their ferocity.
With a swift, powerful motion, he swung his right hand, delivering a crushing blow to the lion on his right. Simultaneously, his left hand shot out, smashing into the other lion. The impact of his strikes was immense. The lion’s long fangs collided with his hands, but Armad’s enhanced toughness made him impervious to their attacks. A sound like shattering glass filled the air as the lion’s fangs broke against his unyielding hands. Dust erupted, obscuring the entrance to the cave, while a powerful gust of wind, generated by the force of the clash, swept through the surrounding trees, cutting down several in its path.
As the dust settled, the scene became clear. The demonic lions, now defanged and defeated, stood before Armad, their once fearsome maws now broken and useless. Armad’s hands, by contrast, remained unscathed.
In recent days, he has noticed that the heaviness of his smash has been increasing significantly. Previously, before he left home, the weight of his smash, if he used all of his cultivation without using his Miyura, did not exceed 100 kg. It was only when he used his World of Nagirinki or his Miyura that the weight of his smash would increase to exceed 100 kg. However, after he began focusing on the toughness of his body, he started seeing some remarkable changes.
Initially, the toughness of his skin barely influenced the weight of his smash. His skin, while more resilient, did not contribute significantly to the power behind his blows. It was the toughness of his muscles that truly made a difference. As his training progressed, he noticed a direct correlation between the toughness of his muscles and the weight of his smash. When the toughness of his muscles reached 30%, the weight of his smash increased by 30 kg. This increase was substantial, marking the beginning of his transformation.
By the time the toughness of his muscles reached 50%, the weight of his smash had increased to an impressive 160 or 170 kg. This newfound power was astonishing, and he could feel the raw energy coursing through his body with every strike. The current toughness of his muscles has now made the weight of his smash reach a staggering 190 kg. This increase in power has granted him the ability to destroy a house without the need for a sword or any skill, relying solely on the might of his smash. The power of his muscles has become a cornerstone of his combat prowess, and he can now achieve feats that were previously unimaginable.
The toughness of Armad’s muscles has now reached such an extent that he can cut down the fangs of these lions with a single smash. The demonic lions, with their ability to think and strategize, have already realized that they have no chance of victory against him. Their once fierce and confident demeanor has turned to one of fear and desperation. They look at each other, a silent understanding passing between them, and turn to flee, intending to return to the cave from which they came.
However, Armad has no intention of letting them escape. He knows that allowing them to return would only mean future trouble. With a determined glint in his eyes, he releases two of his pol strings, scattering their cultivation. The effect is immediate. Instantly, they pause in their tracks, just as the first lion he encountered had done.
Armad quickly rushed to where the demonic lions paused and delivered another powerful smash, identical to the one he had used earlier. This time, his fist struck their chests with immense force, causing their chest bones to break with a loud cracking sound. Without pausing, Armad teleported above them, delivering another devastating blow. The impact shattered their backbones, causing the lions to collapse to the ground. They let out weak roars, their life force ebbing away as they succumbed to their injuries. The smashes not only broke their bones but also severely damaged their internal organs, ensuring they would not survive.
Armad knew he couldn’t waste any time. He swiftly set up a fire and began roasting the lions. While the meat cooked, he used the bones of the animals the lions had killed to fashion a crude but functional chair. Sitting down, he savored the roasted lion meat, feeling the strength and energy it provided. Instantly, he gave the system permission to start producing pills. Previously, among all the demonic animals he had killed, only a few had reached the third stage of Deva. Because of this, the number of pills that increased the toughness of his skin and muscles had been limited. However, now he could defeat even demonic animals at the fourth stage of Deva, significantly boosting his pill production.
As he sat by the fire, reflecting on his recent battles, Armad realized the true significance of muscle toughness. Initially, he believed that the toughness of his muscles merely protected his body from harm. However, he now understood that muscle toughness served a dual purpose. The first was to shield his body, including his muscles and internal organs, from damage. The second, and perhaps more critical, was to enhance the power of his smash attacks. Each increase in muscle toughness amplified the weight and force of his smashes, making them exponentially more devastating.
Indeed, Armad is now certain that if its now he were to duel his younger brother, Prince Sufa, he wouldn’t need to use any special skills. His sheer strength alone would be enough to overpower the prince, inflicting a significant injury and forcing him to bow and show respect. Armad’s training had paid off, and he could feel the difference in his power. He could recall their previous duels where he had to rely on various techniques and strategies to gain an upper hand. Now, the mere thought of those days made him smile with confidence. However, there is no rush; in the future, he will have ample opportunities to test his might against his impolite brother.
After some time, Armad reflected on his journey. Although the reason he gave the judge for leaving the town was to increase its size, a task he hadn’t yet accomplished, he believed he had still fulfilled his mission differently. Even if he were to return home now, he had already reaped significant benefits from this journey. His power had increased exponentially, and he had learned valuable lessons along the way. He had encountered various challenges, each of which had contributed to his growth. However, he had no intention of returning home until he completed the enhancement of his muscle toughness. This goal was now his primary focus, and he was determined to achieve it.
After finishing his tasks for the day, Armad crossed his legs and began meditating. During this time, he consumed all the muscle toughness pills he produced, not sharing any with Nusi. Even the pills that Nusi produced were divided, with Armad taking two-thirds for himself and giving her only one-third. He knew this might seem unfair, but his plan required him to prioritize his muscle toughness first. He aimed to advance to where he would start increasing his bone toughness and moving on to further enhancements.
Armad’s plan was meticulous. Once he achieved the desired level of bone toughness, he would then ensure that all the muscle toughness pills they produced would go to Nusi. By doing so, she would progress in muscle toughness ahead of Ai, who was also nearing the completion of her skin toughness level. Armad recognized the importance of their collective progress, knowing that their combined strength would be vital for future challenges.
Time continued to pass slowly. After 10 days, Armad had already eliminated all the demonic animals that had reached the fourth stage of Deva. Not only did he eliminate them, but he also consumed them entirely, leaving nothing behind. He converted their essence into pills. Fortunately, the system seemed to respond to his needs, as it now produced more pills that increased muscle toughness rather than skin toughness. This allowed Armad to rapidly enhance his muscle strength. In no time, he had already achieved 97% muscle toughness. Armad estimated that within the next three to four days, he would reach 99% muscle toughness.